I’m writing a newsletter to send out (finally!), and in looking on YouTube for the clip about the Josephine documentary I was part of last summer, I discovered this wonderful recommendation for the Josephine B. Trilogy by Jen Knoch:
Writing is long, arduous and solitary work. Readers like Jen Knoch make it very, very special.
I loved this clip- I couldn’t agree more! It definitely IS my all-time favourite historical read:)
Lucy, thank you! YOU are my favourite reader!
Dear Sandra! I study English and I am a great fan of Josephine. So I’m reading your Josephine’s trilogy in English for improve my skills. It’s great! I want to thank you with all my heart for your work. You have brought fresh and interesting light into the old story that everybody knows.
And I have a question for you. I know that you took part in the new documentary about Josephine (“A la recherche de Josephine” of Eric Ellena as I understand correctly). But will be there some others Josephine’s projects in those you are going take part? Sandra, I beg you to not give up my adored Josephine! I think that there is nobody unless you to protect her memory.
And if there a possibility that your trilogy will be made into the movie? Do you think about a possibility of the screen adaptation of your novel?
Please do not forget Josephine!
Greetings from Russia.
Dear reader from Russia! Thank you so much! I’m excited to see Eric’s documentary—soon, I hope. There is one other film project, but I’m not part of it—and I’m afraid that that’s all I’m at liberty to say at this point. I think Josephine’s story would be fantastic on film. Some day!
Far from giving up on Josephine–I’m diving back into her world, in fact!
Thanks SO MUCH for your comment.
Cheers, Sandra
Sandra, it’s amazing that I can speak to you on your personal site! Ma chere amie, I’ve already have told you about my passion for Josephine. That historical character charmed me and continues to intrigue me. And your brilliant novel permits me to look in a new fashion the life of my beloved Josephine.
Dear Sandra! I’ve read yours interviews and books and I absolutely want to ask you some questions that don’t stop to torment me since I’ve read your novels. It’s about the relationship Josephine and Hyppolite Charles. I know that you like a researcher have some doubts about sexual relationship between Josephine and Charlers. I also have read that even doctor Moris Catinat (excuse me if I misspell his name) have some doubts about this subje?t.
But what is the reason of yours doubts? Of course the Josephine’s letters to Charles are fakes (it’s funny that the serious biographers sometimes quote it without even having seen the original letters!) But what is the story of this fake? If I remember correctly it was first published by the biographer (don’t remember his name) in the mid 20 century in his work Le grand amour de Josephine. I have no doubts that those letters are a mystification. But who is the author of it? And what is the reason of this hoax? What do you think about it?
Personal I think (though of course without any proofs) that Josephine and Charles were lovers. I don’t know when their relationship began and when it stopped and were they more lovers or more buisness partners but… In Russia we have a proverb: “There is no smoke without a fire”.
And from what sources come this affirmation? If I remember correctly there are two main sources: the dutchess d’Abrantes memoirs and those of monsieur Hamelin. Laura and her co-author Balzac of course retold gossips. But were these gossips unfounded? As for Hamelin’s memoirs… If he lied what was the reason to lie after all these years? Perhaps he invented some details but what was his purpose to lie about the very nature of the relationshop of Josephine and Charles?
Are there any others sources? if I remember correctly Bourrienne described that this was Junot who finally told the truth to Napoleon. I never understand the reason for what he decided to do it but I can’t understand his reason to lie too. Louise Compoint of course had this reason. But he?
And the nature of the relationship Josephine and Barras? They certainly were fiends and partners. But were they lovers? As fo me I think that they were. I suppose that this man was bisexual but not gay. If he was gay who was the father of one of the children of Therese Tallien? This child if I remember correctly was born in the chateau Grosbois and it was common knowelege that it was his child. And personally I can’t believe that this canny and licentious man could help Rose without demanding sexual toll in return.
And the last question, dear Sandra. Like a Josephine’s fan I want to know everything about her so I want to ask you… When Josephine’s menths stopped? What was her age? You see I am absolutely obsessed by incomparable Josephine.
Oh, excuse me for mistakes in my last message. I taped it late at night.Of course I wanted to ask you when did Josephine’s menstruation stop? What was her age?
Such great questions La Reine Margot! I’m going to answer them in a blog post … Stay tuned!
Sandra, thank you very much! I am longing to read your answer. I absolutely adore Josephine and want to know all about her though I understand that it’s not real: this woman will stay an enigma forever. And I love this.
So true! I’m going to try to answer some of your questions next week.
And a question: how do you know of Eric Ellena’s film?
Oh, dear Sandra! Forgive me please that I haven’t responded at once. I haven’t had access to Internet. I knew about this documentary thanks to your site. And I have already seen the teaser on YouTube. I absolutely want to see it.
Oooops… I hope you have understood that LaReineMargot and Shuwik are the one person. It’s me. And my real name is Olga.
Not a problem La Reine/Shuwik/Olga! Thanks for explaining.